Air impeller



Jan. 26, 1943. w. A. NORRIS AIR IMPELLER Filed Dec. 6, 1940 W m I w o WN A W Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE.

AIR. IMPELLER William A. Norris, Alhambra, Calif. Application December 6, 1940, Serial Nb. 868,796

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in air impellers.

The general object of my invention is to provide an improved air impeller adapted for use either free or in a conduit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air impeller device including novel means for controlling the air stream therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air impeller device including novel means to accumulate air adjacent to the axis thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an air impeller device including a novel leading edge.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an air impeller including a novel scoop.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a conduit showing my improved air impeller device operatively mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a conduit showing a side elevation of my improved impeller device;

Fig. 2A is a sectional View taken on line 2A--2A Fig. 1;

Fig. 2B is a sectional view taken on line 2B-2B Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a still further modified form of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a face View of an airplane type air impeller including the features of my invention; I

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken in line ll, Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have indicated my improvement in impeller device generally at In. As shown, the device 10 includes a plurality of spaced blades l2 mounted on a base member l3.

Each of the blades [2 comprises a leading edge portion I4, which is at the inlet end of the device. From the leading edge M the blade is inclined forwardly as at I5 to form a propelling surface. The portion of each blade nearer its axis for a predetermined distance forwardly curves rearwardly as at l6 and then extends parallel as at i! to the plane of the leading edges Hi to form a scoop portion l8.

The base member [3 includes a plurality of spaced radially extending arms l9.- Each arm has one of the blades l2 received thereto as by welding.

The base it is adapted to be mounted on the armature shaft 2!] of an electric motor 2! which in the drawing is shown as supported within a conduit 22 by a suitable bracket 23.

In operation when the motor 2! is operating it drives the impeller device in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. As the impeller rotates the leading straight edge portions M cleaves the air without making the usual noise which is produced when the air is cleaved with an angularly disposed surface. The scoop portion 18 of the blades picks up and compacts air at the center of the device and centrifugal force moves the air outwardly where the driving surface i5 forces it forward. Thus a heavy column of air is delivered from the impeller.

In Fig. 3 I have indicated a modified form of impeller device generally at 25. As shown the device 25 is similar in all respects to the impeller device I0 except that it is shown as having only four blades and. the blades are inclined forwardly and outwardly from the axis thereof. In Fig. 3 like portions are indicated by similarly primed reference numerals.

In Fig. 4 I have indicated a further modified form of impeller device generally at 25 and have indicated like portions thereof by similarly double primed reference numerals. The device 26 is similar in all respects to the device H] except that it is shown as only having four blades which are inclined rearwardly and inwardly.

In Figs. 5, 6 and '7 I have shown my invention applied to a two blade airplane type impeller 30. As shown the device 36 includes a central hub portion 3| having a bore 32 therein for mounting it on a suitable drive shaft and a pair of opposed blade members 33. The body portion 34 of each of the blades is inclined at the desired angle and a portion 35 thereof at the leading edge is formed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Extending outwardly from the hub 3| a predetermined distance a portion of the trailing edge of each blade curves forwardly at at 36 (Fig. 7) and includes a forwardly extending portion 31 which forms a scoop portion 38 similar to the scoop portion I8 of the blades l2 of the device Ill. The device 39 functions in substantially the same manner as previously described in connection with the device [0.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel air impeller which is simple in construction and highly ellicient in use.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In an air impeller, a hub, a plurality of radially disposed blades, each of said blades including an elongated body having a substantially straight leading edge disposed at the inlet edge of the blade, each blade from the leading edge being inclined to form an air propelling surface, the portion of each blade nearest the axis thereof having a short extending portion which terminates in an edge portion which is spaced from the leading edge to form a scoop portion, the scoop portion having an unobstructed entrance, the end of each blade nearest the axis and at the free edge of the scoop portion being free from attachment to the hub, each blade being secured to the hub along a substantially radial line, the leading edge of each blade being parallel to and in advance of the substantially radial line along which the blade issecured to the hub.

2. In an air impeller, a hub, a plurality of radially disposed blades, each of said blades including an elongated body having a substantially straight and fiat leading edge disposed at the tion having an unobstructed entrance, the leading edge portion and the body of the blade adjacent the leading edge portion being free from attachment to the hub, each blade being secured to the hub along a substantially radial line, the leading edge of each blade being parallel to and in advance of the substantially radial line along which the blade is secured to the hub.

3. In an air impeller, a hub, a plurality of radially disposed blades, each of said blades including an elongated body having a substantially straight and fiat leading edge disposed at the inlet edge of the blade, each blade from the leading edge being inclined to form a propelling surface, the portion of each blade nearest the axis thereof having a short rearwardly extending portion which terminates in an edge portion which is substantially planar, spaced from, and disposed forward of, the leading edge to form a scoop portion, the scoop portion having an unobstructed entrance, the inner and outer ends of each blade being parallel and perpendicular to the plane of its flat leading edge, the leading edge portion and the body of the blade adjacent the leading edge portion being free from attachment to the hub, each blade being secured to the hub along a substantially radial line, the leading edge of each blade being parallel to and in advance of the substantially radial line along which the blade is secured to the hub.

WILLIAM A. NORRIS. 

